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Future for Höxter: Candidates fight for young families and good health!
In the interview, candidates from the Höxter district explain how they want to win over young people and families.
Future for Höxter: Candidates fight for young families and good health!
There is a lot going on in the Höxter district at the moment: the upcoming elections are looming, and the candidates for the office of district administrator have presented themselves to the editorial team of Höxter News. They explained how they would like to make the district more attractive for young people and families. Höxter News reports from the perspectives of competitors.
The four candidates who answered the editorial team's questions on time are Michael Stickeln (CDU), Helmut Lensdorf (SPD), Martina Denkner (Greens) and Peter Eichenseher (AfD). The focus is particularly on the issue of health care, which is of central importance for the attractiveness of rural regions.
Health care in rural areas
In rural areas, which also includes the Höxter district, the challenges in medical and nursing care should not be underestimated. According to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, there are fewer health care facilities in rural regions than in urban centers. This leads to long journeys to doctors and specialists. The details read frighteningly: Lower population density and economic considerations make it unattractive for many physicians to open their practices in rural areas.
The candidates recognized the need to find innovative solutions. Martina Denkner from the Greens, for example, is calling for a nationwide expansion of local public transport and the creation of regional health centers. Mobile medical services could also contribute to improving the care situation. “We have to tackle the logistical challenges in everyday life,” emphasizes Denkner, who continues to focus on affordable living conditions.
Affordable housing and care
The views of the other candidates offer exciting insights into their visions. Helmut Lensdorf (SPD) sees the creation of subsidized housing and the establishment of municipal housing associations as a solution to the problems of young families. The care of children and relatives in need of care must also be secured, says Lensdorf. So affordable housing is high on his agenda.
Michael Stickeln (CDU) wants to increase the quality of life in the region through projects such as “Exquisite Nature” and the “Monastery Garden Route”. Better bus and train connections and the expansion of digital infrastructure are also on his list. The support for returnees and immigrants through a “welcome agency” shows that he wants to actively open the region to young people.
The focus on healthcare through innovative models is elementary. Rural Health looks at the state of health in rural areas and highlights the importance of access to medical facilities. People living there must be able to expect the same health standards as in urban areas.
But access to doctors is not the only issue. In rural areas, the increased burden of disease, particularly among older people, poses a challenge. Digital healthcare, such as telemedicine, is cited as a promising solution to avoid shortages and increase patient satisfaction.
Overall, it remains exciting to see what solutions the candidates for district administrator will present in the election campaign. One thing is certain: the Höxter district has a lot to offer, but at the same time it has to overcome the challenges of public services, especially in health care. Lots of good ideas are needed to attract young people and families to the district and enable a good life here.